JP2012008343A - Electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce operation sounds produced when an operation member rotatable within a prescribed rotation angle is rotated, and to reduce a load applied on a rotation regulating member regulating the rotatable range of the operation member.SOLUTION: When the operation member 4 is rotated to the maximum rotatable angle, a buffer member 12 covering a first projection part 15a provided on the operation member abuts the side face of a first through-hole 11a provided to an exterior cover 11, then a second projection part 15b provided on the operation member abuts the side face of a second through-hole 11b provided to the exterior cover.

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic apparatus having an operation member that can be rotated within a predetermined angle range.

  Conventionally, in an imaging apparatus such as a digital still camera or a video camera, an optical zoom function for changing a magnification by moving a part of a lens of a photographing optical system on an optical axis, and an image signal from an image sensor are electronically transmitted. Some have an electronic zoom function that is controlled to perform enlarged display of the screen. Some of these imaging apparatuses can use an optical zoom function and an electronic zoom function during moving image recording.

  Some of these imaging apparatuses perform optical and electronic zoom operations by rotating a zoom lever that can be rotated when using the optical and electronic zoom functions. The zoom operation by rotating the zoom lever allows the subject to be checked on the image display unit, etc., compared to the configuration in which different buttons are operated when the zoom magnification is changed to the wide-angle side and when the zoom magnification is changed to the telephoto side. However, it is widely used because it allows easy zooming.

  For example, in Patent Literature 1, a spring piece and a zoom lever for returning the zoom lever to a neutral position within a range in which the zoom operation can be performed are integrated with a zoom operation device that performs zoom operation by rotating the zoom lever. A zoom operation device has been proposed.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-339838

  However, in the configuration of the zoom operation device of Patent Document 1, when the zoom lever is rotated to the wide-angle side or the telephoto side, the side surface of the slit provided in the zoom lever restricts the rotation angle range of the zoom lever. There is a problem that the contact sound is generated due to contact. In particular, if the above-mentioned contact sound is generated when moving the zoom lever to the telephoto side so as to enlarge the captured image to obtain a desired enlarged image during moving image recording, the photographer does not intend. There was a problem that the contact sound was also recorded.

  Further, in the configuration of the zoom operation device disclosed in Patent Document 1, the allowable range of rotation of the zoom lever is restricted only by the restriction pin, and it is restricted that an excessive load is applied to the restriction pin when the zoom lever is operated. There was a problem that the pin was damaged.

  Therefore, the present invention reduces the operation sound generated when rotating an operation member that can be rotated within a range of a predetermined rotation angle, and reduces the load applied to the rotation restriction member that restricts the rotatable range of the operation member. The purpose is to reduce.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, an electronic apparatus according to the present invention is an electronic apparatus having an exterior cover and an operation member that can be rotated between a predetermined rotation angle with respect to the exterior cover. The operation member protrudes in an internal direction of the electronic device, and has a first protrusion whose periphery is covered with a buffer member, and protrudes in the internal direction of the electronic device. The operation member is provided in the exterior cover. And a second protrusion for fixing the holder, and the exterior cover includes a first through hole for inserting the first protrusion and a second for inserting the second protrusion. And when the operation member is rotated to the maximum rotation angle, the buffer member covering the first protrusion comes into contact with the side surface of the first through hole. The second protrusion is in contact with the side surface of the second through hole. And features.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce an operation sound generated when rotating an operation member that can be rotated within a range of a predetermined rotation angle, and to regulate the rotation range of the operation member. Can reduce the load.

1 is an external view of a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the zoom lever of the digital camera in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the state which rotated the zoom lever from the neutral position. It is a figure which shows the structure of the zoom lever of the digital camera in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is an external view of a digital camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a camera body, and a photographing lens 2 is provided on the front surface thereof. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the taking lens 2 is retracted in the camera body 1. When the power switch 3 provided on the camera body 1 is turned on, the photographing lens 2 protrudes from the camera body 1 and is ready for photographing.
Reference numeral 4 denotes a zoom lever that can be rotated with respect to the camera body 1 within a range of a predetermined rotation angle, and is a resin molded product. By rotating the zoom lever 4, the angle of view can be changed by moving the photographic lens 2 to the wide-angle side or the telephoto side. Alternatively, an enlarged display of the screen can be performed by electronically controlling an image signal from the image sensor.

  Then, when the release button 5 is pressed, an image is picked up by a not-shown image pickup device (CCD, CMOS sensor or the like), and the photographed image is recorded in a storage medium such as a semiconductor memory loaded in the camera body 1. The camera body 1 has a mode selection switch (not shown) that can switch between a still image shooting mode and a moving image shooting mode. By pressing the release button 5, a still image is selected according to the selected mode. Shoot or shoot a movie.

  Reference numeral 6 denotes a voice input microphone. Audio data from the microphone 6 can be recorded on a recording medium together with image data. In addition, an audio playback speaker 7 is provided on the upper surface of the camera body 1 to play back sound recorded on a recording medium or to adjust sound effects recorded in advance in a memory (not shown) according to the operation. Can be played.

  A liquid crystal display is provided on the back of the camera body 1 as an image display unit (not shown). The image display unit displays an image of a subject that is sequentially captured by the image sensor and an image recorded on a recording medium.

  Next, the configuration of the zoom lever 4 that can be rotated in the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 2A is a view of the zoom lever 4 as viewed from the upper surface (external side) of the camera body 1 and shows the inside of the zoom lever 4 for the sake of explanation. FIG. 2A shows a neutral state in which the zoom lever 4 is not rotated to either the wide-angle side or the telephoto side, that is, at an intermediate position in the rotatable range.

  Reference numeral 4a denotes a finger hooking portion, which allows the zoom lever 4 to be easily rotated by hooking a finger here when performing a zoom operation. Reference numeral 13 denotes a restriction pin (first protrusion) that protrudes toward the inside of the exterior cover 11 and restricts the range of the rotatable angle of the zoom lever 4 (hereinafter also referred to as the rotatable range). 12 covers the surroundings.

  Reference numerals 15a and 15b denote bosses (second protrusions) for fastening the zoom lever 4 and a holder 10 provided in the exterior cover 11 described later with screws. It should be noted that the bosses 15a and 15b need to have a certain degree of strength and strength in order to firmly fix the zoom lever 4 and the holder 10, but the restriction pin 13 is for restricting the rotatable range of the zoom lever. It may be smaller than the bosses 15a and 15b.

  Reference numerals 11a, 11b, and 11c denote first, second, and third through holes provided in the exterior cover 11, respectively. The restriction pin 13 and the buffer member 12 described above pass through the first through hole 11a, the boss 15a passes through the second through hole 11b, and the boss 15b passes through the through hole 11c. The rotatable range of the zoom lever 4 is restricted by the circumferential length of the zoom lever 4 of the first through hole 11a. Further, the circumferential length of the second through hole 11b is such that when the zoom lever 4 is rotated, the buffer member 12 and the side surface of the first through hole 11a are in contact with each other and further rotated by a predetermined angle. The length is such that the boss 15a and the side surface of the second through hole 11b abut. The rotation angle at which the boss 15a contacts the side surface of the second through hole 11b is the maximum rotation angle at which the zoom lever 4 can rotate. The circumferential length of the third through hole 11c is such that the boss 15b is rotated when the zoom lever 4 is rotated by a rotation angle substantially equal to the rotation angle at which the boss 15a and the side surface of the second through hole 11b abut. And the length of the third through hole 11c are in contact with each other. The first through hole 11a, the second through hole 11b, and the third through hole 11c are parallel to the rotation axis of the zoom lever 4 in the region in which the finger hook portion 4a moves when the zoom lever 4 is rotated. It is provided not to be located in any direction. That is, when the zoom lever 4 is viewed from above as shown in FIG. 2A, the zoom lever 4 is provided at a position that does not overlap with the movement locus of the finger hook portion 4a when the zoom lever 4 is rotated. This is because the outer cover 11 is weaker in strength in the vicinity of the first through-hole 11a, the second through-hole 11b, and the third through-hole 11c than in other parts of the outer cover 11. This is to make it difficult for the operator to apply a force from above when operating the zoom lever 4.

  FIG. 2B is a view of FIG. 2A viewed from the back side (inside the camera body 1). FIG.2 (c) is the figure which looked at the AA cross section of FIG.2 (b) from the right side. 2B and 2C, reference numeral 14 denotes a positioning boss of the zoom lever 4, and reference numeral 10 denotes a holder. 11 d is a through hole through which the positioning boss 14 provided in the exterior cover 11 passes. Reference numeral 10a denotes a positioning hole provided in the holder 10, into which the positioning boss 14 is inserted. That is, the zoom lever 4 is positioned with respect to the exterior cover and the holder 10 when the positioning boss 14 passes through the through hole 11d and is inserted into the positioning hole 10a. At this time, the buffer member 12 is held between the zoom lever 4 and the holder 10.

  Further, the bosses 15a and 15b of the zoom lever 4 are fastened to the holder 10 with screws through the second and third through holes 11b and 11c, respectively. Therefore, when the zoom lever 4 is rotated, the holder 10 rotates with the zoom lever 4. Reference numeral 16 denotes a spring fixed to the exterior cover 11. Reference numeral 18 denotes a protrusion provided on the holder 10 and disposed between the springs 16. By disposing the protrusion 18 between the springs 16, the zoom lever 4 can be returned to the neutral state by the urging force of the spring 16 to the protrusion 18 after the zoom lever 4 is rotated.

  Reference numeral 17 denotes a switch, which is mounted on a substrate (not shown). Reference numeral 19 denotes a switch operating portion provided in the holder 10, and the switch operating portion 19 rotates to energize the switch 17 to operate the switch 17. Accordingly, when the zoom lever 4 is rotated, the holder 10 is similarly rotated, and when the switch operating unit 19 operates the switch 17, the zoom operation is started to the wide angle side or the telephoto side. Here, the holder 10 is fixed with screws, but it may be fixed by thermal welding or other means, and the position of the zoom lever 4 and the holder 10 is determined using the boss 15b as a positioning pin. It may be used.

  Next, a state where the zoom lever 4 is rotated will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 shows a state in which the zoom lever 4 is rotated from the neutral state shown in FIG. At this time, the buffer member 12 is in contact with the side surface of the first through hole 11 a and functions as a first rotation restricting portion that restricts the wide-angle-side rotatable range of the zoom lever 4.

  By rotating the zoom lever 4 until the buffer member 12 comes into contact with the side surface of the first through hole 11a, the switch actuating portion 19 biases the switch 17 so that the switch 17 detects the rotation operation on the wide angle side, and the photographing is performed. The lens 2 is moved to the wide angle side.

  At this time, the contact sound generated when the buffer member 12 comes into contact with the side surface of the first through hole 11a is cut by the buffer member 12 so that the high sound region is cut only to the low sound region. The operation sound of the zoom operation that is recorded even if it goes is reduced. If the buffer member 12 is not provided, a contact sound in the high sound range is also generated, and the operation sound of the zoom operation is recorded during moving image recording. Note that the operation sound can be further reduced by increasing the thickness of the buffer member 12.

  In the configuration as described above, when the zoom operation is continued up to a desired zoom magnification, the buffer member 12 may be deformed and an excessive load may be applied to the regulation pin 13. Therefore, when the zoom lever 4 is rotated so that the buffer member 12 is deformed, the boss 15a contacts the side surface of the second through hole 11b and functions as a second rotation restricting portion, and an excessive load is applied to the restricting pin 13. The structure prevents this.

  At this time, if the boss 15b and the side surface of the third through hole 11c come into contact with each other at substantially the same timing as the timing at which the boss 15a contacts the side surface of the second through hole 11b, the load applied to the regulation pin 13 Can be further reduced.

  Here, two bosses are used. However, if the zoom lever 4 is sufficiently fixed, only one of the bosses 15a and 15b may be provided. You may make it function as a rotation control part. Moreover, even if it is a case where it is comprised with two boss | hubs, you may function only one boss | hub as a 2nd rotation control part.

  In this way, by covering the restriction pin 13 that restricts the rotatable range of the zoom lever 4 with the buffer member 12, it is possible to reduce the contact sound generated when the zoom lever 4 is rotated to the rotation end. Further, when the buffer member 12 is deformed by the rotation operation, the load applied to the restriction pin 13 can be reduced by further restricting the rotation with the boss 15a for fastening the zoom lever 4 and the holder 10 with screws. it can.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment according to the present invention, which is an example of ensuring the strength of the restriction pin 13 that functions as a rotation restricting portion. FIG. 4A is substantially the same as FIG. 2B, and the shape of the holder 10 is different from FIG. 2B. FIG. 4B is a view of the AA cross section of FIG.

  Reference numeral 200a denotes a positioning hole into which the restriction pin 13 provided in the holder 10 can be inserted, and reference numeral 200b denotes a positioning hole peripheral portion in the peripheral area of the positioning hole 200a. Reference numeral 201 denotes an escape portion 201 provided on the outer cover 11 so as to face the positioning hole peripheral portion 200b.

  In the present embodiment, the holder 10 is made of sheet metal, and the positioning hole peripheral portion 200b has a half-cut shape toward the zoom lever 4 and is closer to the outer appearance side than the other regions of the holder 10. . For this reason, the restriction pin 13 is not only inserted into the positioning hole 200a, but also the position of the positioning hole peripheral portion 200b holding the restriction pin 13 is closer to the zoom lever 4, so that the rotation of the restriction pin 13 is restricted. The strength as a part can be further secured. Further, by providing the escape portion 201 around the through hole 11a so as not to interfere with the positioning hole peripheral portion 200b, it is possible to configure the outer cover 11 with a thickness other than the periphery of the regulation pin 13 secured. is there. Therefore, it is possible to ensure the strength of the restriction pin 13 as a rotation restricting portion without reducing the rigidity of the outer cover 11 as much as possible. Here, it is also possible to further secure the strength of the regulation pin 13 by using the holder 10 as a molded product such as a resin and bringing the positioning hole peripheral portion 200b closer to the zoom lever 4 side than the half-cut dimension of the sheet metal. .

  In the above-described two embodiments, the case where the present invention is applied to the zoom lever used for the zoom operation in the imaging apparatus has been described. However, the rotation operation is performed between a predetermined rotation angle from the neutral position, which is used for the operation of other functions. You may apply to the operation member which can do. For example, in a playback mode in which one of a plurality of images recorded on a recording medium is displayed on the image display unit, the present invention may be applied to an operation member that performs an image feed operation for changing the image to be displayed to the next image. Absent.

  Further, since it can also be applied to an operation member used for an operation of a function that can be executed by an electronic device other than the imaging device, such as the image feed operation described above, the rotation operation is performed between a predetermined rotation angle from the neutral position. The present invention can be applied to any electronic device having an operation member capable of operating.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Camera body 4 Zoom lever 4a Finger hook part 10 Holder 10a Positioning hole 11 Exterior cover 11a 1st through-hole 11b 2nd through-hole 11c 3rd through-hole 11d Through-hole 12 Buffer member 13,213 Control pin 15a, 15b Boss 200a Positioning hole 200b Positioning hole peripheral part 201 Relief part

Claims (3)

An electronic device having an exterior cover and an operation member capable of rotating between a predetermined rotation angle with respect to the exterior cover,
The operating member is
A first protrusion that protrudes toward the inside of the electronic device and is surrounded by a buffer member;
A second protrusion for projecting toward the inside of the electronic device and fixing the operation member to a holder provided inside the exterior cover;
The exterior cover is
A first through hole into which the first protrusion is inserted;
A second through hole for inserting the second protrusion,
When the operation member is rotated to the maximum rotatable angle, the second projecting portion is the second projecting portion after the buffer member covering the first projecting portion comes into contact with the side surface of the first through hole. An electronic device that contacts the side surface of the through-hole. The operation member has a finger hook on the external side of the electronic device,
The first through hole and the second through hole are provided so as not to be positioned in a direction parallel to the rotation axis of the operation member in a region in which the finger hook portion moves when the operation member is rotated. The electronic device according to claim 1. The holder has a positioning hole for positioning the operating member by inserting the first protrusion.
3. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein a peripheral region of the positioning hole of the holder is closer to an outer appearance side of the exterior cover than other regions of the holder.

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